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At least 1,171 records · Page 65Linked to original sources
USGS2008

Estimated Probability of Post-Wildfire Debris-Flow Occurrence and Estimated Volume of Debris Flows from a Pre-Fire Analysis in the Three Lakes Watershed, Grand County, Colorado

Debris flows pose substantial threats to life, property, infrastructure, and water resources. Post-wildfire debris flows may be of catastrophic proportions compared to debris flows occurring in unburned areas. During 2006, the U.S. Geological Survey (USGS), in cooperation with the Northern Colorado Water Conservancy District, initiated a pre-wildfire study to determine the potential for post-wildfire debris flows in the Three Lakes watershed, Grand County, Colorado. The objective was to estimate the probability of post-wildfire debris flows and to estimate the approximate volumes of debris flows from 109 subbasins in the Three Lakes watershed in order to provide the Northern Colorado Water Conservancy District with a relative measure of which subbasins might constitute the most serious debris flow hazards. This report describes the results of the study and provides estimated probabilities of debris-flow occurrence and the estimated volumes of debris flow that could be produced in 109 subbasins of the watershed under an assumed moderate- to high-burn severity of all forested areas. The estimates are needed because the Three Lakes watershed includes communities and substantial water-resources and water-supply infrastructure that are important to residents both east and west of the Continental Divide. Using information provided in this report, land and water-supply managers can consider where to concentrate pre-wildfire planning, pre-wildfire preparedness, and pre-wildfire mitigation in advance of wildfires. Also, in the event of a large wildfire, this information will help managers identify the watersheds with the greatest post-wildfire debris-flow hazards.

Scientific Investigations Map↗
USGS1953

Distribution of coarse- and fire-grained rocks in the Wasatch formation and their relationship to uranium deposits, Powder River Basin, Wyoming

A brief study of the areal distribution of the various rock types of the Wasatch formation in the Powder River Basin, Wyoming, was made during the summer of 1952. In the south and central parts if the basin, the Wasatch formation appears to contain coarser-grained rocks in contrast to the northern part, which contain relatively no coarser-grained rocks. The finer-grained rocks are abundant in the northern and central parts of the basin but relatively scare in the southern part. The known uranium deposits in the Wasatch are in the central area where coarser-grained sandstones are complemented by abundant finer-grained rocks such as shales and siltstones.

Wyoming↗
USGS2024

Per- and polyfluoroalkyl substances in the Duluth, MN area: Exposure to and biomarker responses in tree swallows relative to known fire-fighting foam sources

Tree swallow nest boxes were deployed at sites proximal to two putative aqueous film forming foam (AFFF) sources in the Duluth, MN area, as well as along the St. Louis River and a reference lake for comparative purposes in 2019, 2020 and 2021. The two AFFF sites were the current Duluth Air National Guard Base (ANG) and the Lake Superior College Emergency Response Training Center. Between 13 and 40 per- and polyfluoroalkyl substances (PFAS), depending on year, were detected and quantified in tree swallow egg, nestling carcasses, and stomach contents. Assessments were made of oxidative stress and ethoxyresorufin-O-dealkylase activity in liver tissue, thyroid hormone levels in plasma and thyroid glands, DNA damage in red blood cells, and two measures of immune response (haptoglobin-like activity and immunoglobulin) in plasma of the nestlings. Additionally, other contaminants, such as polychlorinated biphenyls, legacy organochlorine pesticides, and trace elements, were assessed at sites with no previous data. Total egg PFAS concentrations at the ANG site and north of that site were 30–40 times higher than at the reference lake, while nestling PFAS concentrations were 10–15 times higher. In contrast, the St. Louis River sites had slightly, but non-statistically significant, elevated egg and nestling PFAS concentrations relative to the reference lake (2–5 times higher). One PFAS, perfluorohexane sulfonate (PFHxS), was higher, as a proportion of total PFAS, at sites with a known AFFF source compared to the reference lake, as well as compared to sites along the St. Louis River with mainly urban and industrial sources of PFAS. The ratio of total carboxylates to total sulfonates also distinguished between PFAS sources. There were few to no differences in biomarker responses among sites, and no association with PFAS exposure.

Minnesota↗
USGS2004

Fire regimes and vegetation responses in two Mediterranean-climate regions

Brain cholinesterase activities were determined in birds from forests sprayed with Dylox2 at 1.13 kg/hectare (1 lb/acre ? active ingredient [a.i.]) or Sevin-4-oil2 at 1.13 kg/hectare (1 lb/acre ? a.i.) for up to 5 days postspray. Of ten bird species evaluated from the Dylox spray area, four species represented by six individuals had values which were depressed more than 2 standard deviations below the mean. Three of these activities (two species) were about 20% less than the mean. Of 12 species evaluated from the Sevin-4-oil spraying, three individuals representing three species had depressed values. One value was depressed greater than 20% below the mean. Half of the depressed activities were in canopy-dwelling birds collected on the day of spray.

Revista Chilena de Historia Natural↗